Laminated, cohesive, interwound fabric constructed in tubular and annular form.



L. A. SUBERS.

' LAMINATED, COHESIVE, INTERWOUND FABRIC CONSTRUCTED IN TUBULAR ANDANNULAR FORM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23,1914.

Patented July 11',- 1917.

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L-AMINATED, CHEslv APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23| |914.

Patented .1 uly 17 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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LAWRENCE A. SUBERS, OF EAST CLEVELAND, OHIO. l

LAMINATED, COI-IESIVE, INTERWOUND FABRIC CONSTRUCTED IN TUBULAR AND iments in a continuous band formed of laminated, cohering, interwound,fibrous elements, and of the tubular, flattened type having selvageedges and described in Letters Patent granted heretofore to Lawrence A.Subers, and bearing number 1,017,271,

' and the aggregate strength of all the eo-mand date of issue of Feb.13, 1912, in which series of fibrous elements are wound in tubular formto kcross each other at prede termined angles, and in which'the anglecan be controlled during the construction of the band to lpermit ofvarying the amount of subsequent expansion or elongation o-f the fabricin which the band is afterward incorporated, by which means asubstantially uniform amount of expansion and elongation throughout thefabric can be obtained,

ponent layers can be utilized.

The features of novelty and improvement which characterize the presentinvention have reference to a band of a predetermined normal width andhaving periodically widened portions arranged at regular intervals'thereon, yand which is adapted to be incorporated in a tubular annularfabric such as a pneumatic tire, and in which the widened portions areso positioned that when the band is continuously wound upon an annularmandrel the wider portions will bepositioned upon the outercircumference or tread side of the fabric and the portions of normalwidth will be ypositioned upon the inner circumference or rim sidethereof.

The band is gradually tapered on both sides from the normal narrowportions in both directions toward the widest portions in such a mannerthat when the band is wound upon the mandrel the edges of the adjoiningmembers will abut and make the fabric continuous and when removed from IANNULAR FORM.

Specication of Letters Patent. Patented July 11.7. 191.7, Applicationled September 23, 1,914. Serial No. 863,127.

the mandrel the shape will correspond substantially with that of thefinished tire without leaving any openings between the bands upon theouter circumference or tread side of the tire. p

The invention further comprises a band formed of laminated, cohering,interwound fibrous elements, wound upon a mandrel with the elementscrossing each other at a normal angle at the narrowest portions,theangle f crossing being gradually increased as 1t approaches portionsof greater width and thence gradually decreased until the l normal angleis resumed. The portions of greatest width recur at regular intervals inthe band and are intermediate of and alternate with the narrow portionsand are pref-` erably positioned centrally between them.

The invention is illustrated or eXemplified in the accompanyingdrawings, is hereinafter more fully described, and specifically pointedout in the claims.

-Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a band constructed asdescribed, and showing periodically widened portions therein; Fig. 2 isan enlarged view of a part thereof showing one of the periodicallywidened portions and the change of the angle of winding therein from thenormal width as exhibited in the narrow portions; Fig. 3 is a transversesection of the saine, enlarged, showing a central band of solid rubber;Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a portion of fabric such as a tire,constructed in tubular and annular form from series of continuouslywound bands such as described and having their widest portionspositioned upon the tread or outer side and having their narrow portions'(which are of normal width) positioned at the inner or rim sid-e of thetire. Fig. 5 is a plan of a series of forming rolls through which thecompressible band is propelled to form the band into continuouslyrepeated and regularly spaced portions of normal and reduced width,adapted for applying to the respective tread or crown and rim surfaceskof a pneumatic tire or casing; Fig. 6 is a side elevation thereof; Fig.7 is a front elevation of one of the 8 is a plan of the band afterpassing through the rolls, showing laterally compressed edges.

In these' views A represents a continuous band formed of series ofparallel fibrous elements or minor bands a, a', which are wound upon asuitable mandrel. One series of parallel fibrous elements crosses theother at a normal angle at the portion B which constitutes the narrowportion of the band and is repeated at regular intervals. The computed vlength of each interval is determined by the length of band required toencircle the tire once, when the band is inclined at the angle in which'it iswound in the fabric, as shown in Fig. 4.

Intermediate of the narrow portions of normal width are shown the widerportions C which also recur -at regular intervals and in which the angleof inclination of the fabric elements is gradually increased up to apoint of greatest width and thence gradually decreased to the normalangle.

This change in the angular relation of the series of fibrous elementsdoes not produce an abrupt change in the shape of the band, but thesides of the band are gradually tapered in both directionsl from thenormal positions to the broadened positions.

The importantfeatures to be obtained are to completely cover with thebroadened portions of the band the surface of the outer or tread side ofthe tire (whichis of greater area than the surface of the inner or rimside thereof since it is of greater diameter) and also to so shape theabutting edges of parallel bands that they will make contact with eachother at all points of theirllength from tread side to rim side, andproduce thereby a continuous, unbroken fabric.

The manner of producing cohesion of the several bands, and of producingcohesion of theelements in each band is accomplished by methodsdescribed in my previous applications and patents and does not requirefurther description here. l

I believe myself to be the first to provide a band of this character andall variations or improvements and additions to the structure hereindescribed are believed to be included in the invention and to be withinthe scope of the, appended claims.

For instance at D, Fig. 4, at one extremity ofthe annular fabric thebeginning of a slit is shown which when completed permits the edges tobe separated at the rim side if desired, so that the fabric can beincorporated in a clencher or straight side tire, or the fabric can beemployed without slitting von the rim side` as when `used as anintegralinner tube or for corresponding uses. In Figs. 7 to 10 inclusivethe method of forming i the fabric i's exemplified.

Here R, R are sets of rolls over which the fabric band vA passes,one setbeing cirh cumferentially grooved and over which the edges of the bandarev periodically and laterally compressed. In Fig. 9 one of one set ofrolls is shown having a groove alternately normal and contracted inwidth, the

narrow portion of which is shown at n, and the wide portion of which isdiametrically opposite the narrow portion and is shown in dotted linesyat w.

The sets of rolls R, It are operatively connected by means of spur gearsGr G of equal number of teeth mounted upon roll shafts S, S, and a bandwheel X and a band vY supply the power.

As the band traverses the grooves in the rollers it is laterallyT andperiodically compressed in the narrow portions n, a, and retains itsnormal width in other portions.

The necessary amount of radial and lateral compression of the fabricband upon the rolls to cause it to conform to the narrow portions of thegrooves is obtained by placing adjoining pressure .rolls R in relativelyclose contact with the other rolls and conining the band between theflanges R', R upon the grooved sets of rolls.

The flanges upon the grooved rolls overlap the edges of the pressurerolls, as shown in the figures, and the edges of the pressure rolls arealternately normal in width and narrowed to correspond to the alternatenormal and narrowed portions of the grooved rolls and all rolls are ofequal diameter. That is to Say the rolls are respectively male andfemale in character.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desireJ tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a continuous laminated-cohering-interwound fabric band, series ofinterwound, parallel, brouselements crossing each other at apredetermined angle and at regularly repeated normal positions, saidseries of` elements crossing each other at a different angle atregularly recurring points intermediate of said vnormal positions,whereby said band is alternately of normal width and laterallyexpanded,r substantially as described.

2. A continuous hollow attened band composed of series of unwoveninterwound cohering fabric elements, said band having. narrow portionsarranged at regular recurring positions therein, alternating withintermediate broader portions centrally positioned between said narrowportions.

Y 3. A continuously wound fabric band, comprising 'a attened tube,composed of series of fibrous elements-interwound and cohering together,the angle of crossing of said fibrous elements being periodically normaland periodicallychanged from said normal angle, whereby the band isalternately of normal width and broadened at regularly recurringintervals.

4. A continuous fabric band composed of fibrous elements cohering invulcanizable material, said band having constantly recurring portions ofnormal width and constantly recurring portions of greater Width andintermediate of the portions of normal Width said elements beingarranged in noninterlocking layers.

5. A continuous band for incorporation in an annular and tubular fabric,comprising series of parallel cohering fibrous elements Wound at anangle therein, and series 0f similar cohering fibrous elements inter-Wound with the aforesaid fibrous elements and crossing the same atpredetermined angles, at regularly recurring normal positions, saidseries of bands crossing each other at predetermined different angles atregularly recurring points intermediate of said normal positions.

6. A continuous flattened fabric band having constantly recurringportions of normal width and constantly 'recurring portions of greaterWidth intermediate the portions of normal Width, said band comprisinginter- Wound fibrous elements and being of uniform compactness.

7. As an article of manufacture, a continuous fabric band comprisingfibrous elements of substantially uniform dimensions 25 throughout theirlengths7 said band having constantly recurring portions of normal Widthand constantly recurring portions of greater Width intermediate theportions of normal Width and being of uniform compactness, said elementsbeing in non-interlocking layers.

In testimony whereof, 'I hereunto set my hand this Sept. 21 1914.

LAWRENCE A. SUBERS. ln presence of- ERNEST MosMAN, ADAM MEYER.

